Predictors of Cardiovascular Morbidity Among Adult Hypertensive Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Background: Hypertension is a public health issue affecting over a billion people globally. 15% of the adults in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) are thought to have hypertension. A large proportion of them remain undiagnosed or are sub-optimally treated. Those with inadequately treated hypertension have a high risk of life-threatening cardiovascular complications such as ischemic heart disease, left ventricular hypertrophy and heart failure. This study was undertaken to elucidate the cardiovascular morbidity seen in a sample of adult hypertensive patients in Saudi Arabia and identify key demographic and clinical factors associated with cardiovascular morbidity. Methods: A multicentric cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2019 to November 2021 at three hospitals in Al-Kharj KSA. Totally, 105 adult patients with a documented history of primary hypertension for at least 5 years irrespective of treatment status presenting themselves to the study sites were included. Patients with secondary hypertension, and those without confirmed cause and duration of hypertension were excluded. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with cardiovascular morbidity. Results: The study included 105 participants aged 47.75±13.46 years. 50 (47.6%) were males and 62 (59%) were not Saudis. Left Ventricular Hypertrophy, 64 (61%), diastolic dysfunction, 44 (41.9%), and retinopathy, 33 (31.4%) were the most frequently observed morbidities. Participants aged over 45, those with diabetes, or those with dyslipidemia were more likely to have cardiovascular morbidities (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)): 4.01 (1.29–12.46), p = 0.016, AOR: 6.4 (1.62–25.28), p = 0.008, and AOR: 6.71 (1.46– 30.83), p = 0.014, respectively. Conclusion: Older age, the presence of comorbid diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia are associated with a higher likelihood of cardiovascular morbidity in hypertensive patients of Saudi Arabia.